Download the XP Powertoys from MS (or just TweakUI by itself) and install TweakUi. It will be placed in your Control Panel. Double-click on it and click on the tab "General". Empty all the boxes there except "Beep on errors".
Problem solved.

In the same TweakUi, on the tab "Mouse", the first setting concerns the menu-speed. Bring the slider a bit to the left (Fast) and click OK, it will speed up the showing of the menus. Repeat until you like what you see.

I thought I'd pass along one I just found a couple of hours ago, and I'm already VERY impressed with it. You may or may not have already heard of it, but in case you haven't, it's called X-Setup Pro, and can be had from Here .

Like Tweak UI, it's a free program, but let me tell you, it has ALL the bells and whistles. Auto download of plugins, and all that. No affiliation, but just really impressed with the power.

That is a well-known program, formerly from XTEQ who changed their name a while ago.
I tried it about a year ago, but it totally screwed up my Win2000 Pro. Luckily I always make a Drive Image before I install anything new, so I was up and running again within 15 minutes.

At one time I was tweak-mad too, but I am getting too old for all that playing around with settings.

Anyway, glad you found what you wanted and that I could be of assistance.